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China Hand
When a high-ranking Chinese general wants to defect to the US, the CIA tries to recruit a recent Harvard grad teaching at a Beijing university to exfiltrate the man’s daughter—a treacherous operation that could shape the balance of power for decades.
The whole debacle was classified and buried. Until now.
It’s 1998, and China’s political and military leaders are torn by ideological divisions. Amid these seething rivalries, Andrew Callahan arrives in Beijing fresh out of Harvard, planning to spend an adventurous year studying Mandarin and teaching at the renowned International Affairs University. The IAU is known as a training ground for diplomats and spies. But Andrew has no idea that his budding relationship with the attractive and self-assured dean’s assistant, Lily Jiang, will also entangle him in a conspiratorial web of worldwide proportions.
A CIA officer approaches Andrew and informs him that Lily’s father is a top Chinese general caught in a power struggle. The general wants to defect but won’t do so without his wife and daughter. Even more shocking is that the Agency needs Andrew’s assistance for Lily to evade round-the-clock surveillance and escape to the US.
If Andrew agrees, he’ll face lethal odds against China’s ruthless security services to help pull off one of the greatest intelligence coups in American history. If he refuses, it could cost Lily and her family their lives.
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful culture at a turbulent time, China Hand is the story of a reluctant spy and a mission whose deadly consequences continue to reverberate today.
The whole debacle was classified and buried. Until now.
It’s 1998, and China’s political and military leaders are torn by ideological divisions. Amid these seething rivalries, Andrew Callahan arrives in Beijing fresh out of Harvard, planning to spend an adventurous year studying Mandarin and teaching at the renowned International Affairs University. The IAU is known as a training ground for diplomats and spies. But Andrew has no idea that his budding relationship with the attractive and self-assured dean’s assistant, Lily Jiang, will also entangle him in a conspiratorial web of worldwide proportions.
A CIA officer approaches Andrew and informs him that Lily’s father is a top Chinese general caught in a power struggle. The general wants to defect but won’t do so without his wife and daughter. Even more shocking is that the Agency needs Andrew’s assistance for Lily to evade round-the-clock surveillance and escape to the US.
If Andrew agrees, he’ll face lethal odds against China’s ruthless security services to help pull off one of the greatest intelligence coups in American history. If he refuses, it could cost Lily and her family their lives.
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful culture at a turbulent time, China Hand is the story of a reluctant spy and a mission whose deadly consequences continue to reverberate today.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2022
61 people are currently reading
3826 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 27, 2022
After the fifth page I was hooked and could not put the book down. I loved that it was straight forward with excellent character interaction. The story line was flawless. Straight smooth read. Even though the book is based on actual events I feel you can take Lily and Andrew place them into another story and you would have the same result. How the CIA had everything setup and in place waiting for Andrew to come was amazing. How Andrew fell in love and was able to make things happen was great. I feel like there can be another story coming with the cliffhanger. How it was left. I am very interested to know. Lily and Andrew are a perfect pair. If you like Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp you will like this story.
July 3, 2022
Beijing in the late 1990s was a far cry from what it is today. Stuck between the reform and opening era and the digital age, late 1990s China encapsulated a short period when its global economic rise was becoming very evident and the possibilities for the near future were endless. Scott Spacek brings the reader into this special period in this debut novel set in 1998 and 1999.
The hero, Andrew Callahan, moves to Beijing to teach English at the elite international affairs university. A recent Harvard grad from Chicago, he secured a job with a top management consulting firm. A beloved professor suggests he first teach in China for a year to improve his Mandarin. It could only help with his career.
So Andrew flies to Beijing in the fall of 1998 and immediately meets a colorful group of foreign teachers like the veteran Tom Blum, who had been in China for decades since the thawing of Sino-U.S. relations in the 1970s, as well as the burly Will Carter, another teacher who had lived in a number of war-torn countries. He also gets to know locals like Lily Jiang, the dean’s assistant and daughter of China’s top general. As Andrew meets more people on campus and in Beijing as a whole, he soon finds himself recruited to smuggle Lily Jiang and her mother out of China while her father defects on a work trip to Washington, D.C.
Spacek’s novel is based on the true defection of a Chinese general. Andrew and Lily become an item, but he has to keep her in the dark when it comes to their escape plan. Any leak could ruin it not just for Andrew and Lily, but for her parents and a network of CIA operatives and reformers in the Chinese government. The story mainly takes place in Beijing, but Andrew and his escape crew end up in other cities as they try to keep one step ahead of the people who do not want them to leave China.
The story moves at a quick pace and there are plot twists along the way. Although other reviewers have classified this story as a contemporary one, I’d argue that this story isn’t since so much of it could not have happened today. Their internet access would not have been relegated to only Internet cafes and Lily would most certainly not have worked as an assistant in a university. There were also attendants on each hotel floor back then that would regularly bring thermoses of hot water to each room. Spacek includes all of these in his story, which are decidedly 1998-99, but I think people would be hard-pressed to find those in China today, at least not in the hotels where foreigners would stay.
Spy novel reviews should never include spoilers and I won’t do that here, but I think it’s all right to say that Spacek leaves the reader wanting and hoping for more. Let’s hope that wish comes true.
The hero, Andrew Callahan, moves to Beijing to teach English at the elite international affairs university. A recent Harvard grad from Chicago, he secured a job with a top management consulting firm. A beloved professor suggests he first teach in China for a year to improve his Mandarin. It could only help with his career.
So Andrew flies to Beijing in the fall of 1998 and immediately meets a colorful group of foreign teachers like the veteran Tom Blum, who had been in China for decades since the thawing of Sino-U.S. relations in the 1970s, as well as the burly Will Carter, another teacher who had lived in a number of war-torn countries. He also gets to know locals like Lily Jiang, the dean’s assistant and daughter of China’s top general. As Andrew meets more people on campus and in Beijing as a whole, he soon finds himself recruited to smuggle Lily Jiang and her mother out of China while her father defects on a work trip to Washington, D.C.
Spacek’s novel is based on the true defection of a Chinese general. Andrew and Lily become an item, but he has to keep her in the dark when it comes to their escape plan. Any leak could ruin it not just for Andrew and Lily, but for her parents and a network of CIA operatives and reformers in the Chinese government. The story mainly takes place in Beijing, but Andrew and his escape crew end up in other cities as they try to keep one step ahead of the people who do not want them to leave China.
The story moves at a quick pace and there are plot twists along the way. Although other reviewers have classified this story as a contemporary one, I’d argue that this story isn’t since so much of it could not have happened today. Their internet access would not have been relegated to only Internet cafes and Lily would most certainly not have worked as an assistant in a university. There were also attendants on each hotel floor back then that would regularly bring thermoses of hot water to each room. Spacek includes all of these in his story, which are decidedly 1998-99, but I think people would be hard-pressed to find those in China today, at least not in the hotels where foreigners would stay.
Spy novel reviews should never include spoilers and I won’t do that here, but I think it’s all right to say that Spacek leaves the reader wanting and hoping for more. Let’s hope that wish comes true.
October 19, 2022
Riveting read. One of the best spy thrillers of 2022.
August 1, 2022
FORBIDDEN FABLE OR FACT-BASED FICTION?
July 28, 2022
China Hand, Scott Spacek’s new spy thriller set in Beijing, is bound to raise the hackles of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) censors for its depiction of a young American’s involvement in the defection of a top Chinese general and his family. The story will undoubtedly be forbidden for distribution in China.
Which is a shame, as Spacek takes a nuanced approach authentically depicting a brief period of time when the Chinese and American populations reached out to each other with much less animosity and distrust than we see today.
What changed? In my discussions with Chinese citizens and ex-pats, the 1999 bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, supposedly accidental collateral damage in the Kosovo conflict waged by NATO and the Clinton Administration, horrified the Chinese population.
For the first time the #1 superpower in the world attacked China, unprovoked.
Whether that is the whole truth will probably never be known, but it is indisputable that the average Chinese citizen’s awe of America’s technological prowess called the Internet was transformed by blistering accusations from the Chinese government into shock at America’s brutality.
Spacek skillfully re-creates the dynamics of that time and place before, during, and immediately after the attack, a reflection of his own experience as a visiting professor in Beijing. The first half of the novel draws you into the very human interactions between students and teacher, government scrutiny and bureaucratic constraints, lovers and colleagues. The only danger lurking is the forbidden attraction blooming between the lovely daughter of a high-ranking general and the young American professor who is painfully aware of breaking cultural and professional norms. Spacek’s effective use of first-person narrative brings the reader intimately close to his vivid descriptions of local streets, with stark imagery and even smells of sweaty gyms, musky sex, aromatic banquets and pollution-laden skies.
Yet it is the second half of the novel that earns its place as a spy thriller. In 1999, internal political tensions were high and various factions jockeyed for power within the CCP. The young professor is asked to assist in the general’s defection just as the embassy bombing incites ominous mob violence against Americans in China. Forced to question the veracity of each person in his small network of contacts, he discovers that individual courage can overcome mighty odds when love is at stake. Not quite a suave James Bond, nor a bumbling Indiana Jones, nor even a super-smart Jack Ryan, Spacek’s protagonist demonstrates a poignant blend of patriotism coupled with personal dedication. The government-sanctioned operational support for both sides is secondary to the grit and daring of the characters, a refreshing alternative to the formulaic thrillers fighting Russian agents and Middle East terrorists.
Spacek acknowledges the tough road he and others have chosen when writing fiction about China with any sense of criticism. “Let’s be honest—and I know it’s controversial to say this—media companies, and corporations in general, are terrified of offending China…It’s amazing how many authors I’ve spoken to who’ve said they were explicitly told by agents or publishers not to write about China unless it’s positioned as the hero.”
Unfortunately, that self-censorship within the media industry begets more ignorance of key issues and internal conflicts that shape one of the most influential countries in the world. It also forces novelists to educate while still moving the story forward, a tough job to do in the best of times. Occasionally China Hand’s dialog is a little forced, the need to present historical context awkward, but ultimately Spacek relies on his own experiences in China, his insights into its culture and people, to see him through to the exciting end, and sets up for a sequel.
I hope you will join me in encouraging him to do so.
To learn more about China Hand, visit Scott Spacek’s website.
——————–
Ann Bridges wrote this book review, and is the author of multiple books about China’s rising influence.
For more novels about modern-day China, please check out my other book reviews and/or my own fictional account of Silicon Valley’s ties with China:
MOODY, John. Of Course They Knew, Of Course They… 2021. As COVID pandemic swept the world, what really happened beforehand? A fictional guess by a renowned journalist with excellent sources.
MCARTHUR, Dobie. Questionable Intent, 2021. A cautionary tale of what America in the late-2020s could look like based on the policies and decisions being made by our embattled politicians and policymakers over global resources and players.
BRIDGES, Ann. Private Offerings, A Silicon Valley Novel, 2015. Winner Best Business Fiction. Top 10 Business Book. High stakes finance with China ties revealed.
BRIDGES, Ann. Rare Mettle, A Silicon Valley Sequel, 2016. China’s dominance of key metals challenges America’s national security. Pre-cursor to Groundbreaking!
July 28, 2022
China Hand, Scott Spacek’s new spy thriller set in Beijing, is bound to raise the hackles of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) censors for its depiction of a young American’s involvement in the defection of a top Chinese general and his family. The story will undoubtedly be forbidden for distribution in China.
Which is a shame, as Spacek takes a nuanced approach authentically depicting a brief period of time when the Chinese and American populations reached out to each other with much less animosity and distrust than we see today.
What changed? In my discussions with Chinese citizens and ex-pats, the 1999 bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, supposedly accidental collateral damage in the Kosovo conflict waged by NATO and the Clinton Administration, horrified the Chinese population.
For the first time the #1 superpower in the world attacked China, unprovoked.
Whether that is the whole truth will probably never be known, but it is indisputable that the average Chinese citizen’s awe of America’s technological prowess called the Internet was transformed by blistering accusations from the Chinese government into shock at America’s brutality.
Spacek skillfully re-creates the dynamics of that time and place before, during, and immediately after the attack, a reflection of his own experience as a visiting professor in Beijing. The first half of the novel draws you into the very human interactions between students and teacher, government scrutiny and bureaucratic constraints, lovers and colleagues. The only danger lurking is the forbidden attraction blooming between the lovely daughter of a high-ranking general and the young American professor who is painfully aware of breaking cultural and professional norms. Spacek’s effective use of first-person narrative brings the reader intimately close to his vivid descriptions of local streets, with stark imagery and even smells of sweaty gyms, musky sex, aromatic banquets and pollution-laden skies.
Yet it is the second half of the novel that earns its place as a spy thriller. In 1999, internal political tensions were high and various factions jockeyed for power within the CCP. The young professor is asked to assist in the general’s defection just as the embassy bombing incites ominous mob violence against Americans in China. Forced to question the veracity of each person in his small network of contacts, he discovers that individual courage can overcome mighty odds when love is at stake. Not quite a suave James Bond, nor a bumbling Indiana Jones, nor even a super-smart Jack Ryan, Spacek’s protagonist demonstrates a poignant blend of patriotism coupled with personal dedication. The government-sanctioned operational support for both sides is secondary to the grit and daring of the characters, a refreshing alternative to the formulaic thrillers fighting Russian agents and Middle East terrorists.
Spacek acknowledges the tough road he and others have chosen when writing fiction about China with any sense of criticism. “Let’s be honest—and I know it’s controversial to say this—media companies, and corporations in general, are terrified of offending China…It’s amazing how many authors I’ve spoken to who’ve said they were explicitly told by agents or publishers not to write about China unless it’s positioned as the hero.”
Unfortunately, that self-censorship within the media industry begets more ignorance of key issues and internal conflicts that shape one of the most influential countries in the world. It also forces novelists to educate while still moving the story forward, a tough job to do in the best of times. Occasionally China Hand’s dialog is a little forced, the need to present historical context awkward, but ultimately Spacek relies on his own experiences in China, his insights into its culture and people, to see him through to the exciting end, and sets up for a sequel.
I hope you will join me in encouraging him to do so.
To learn more about China Hand, visit Scott Spacek’s website.
——————–
Ann Bridges wrote this book review, and is the author of multiple books about China’s rising influence.
For more novels about modern-day China, please check out my other book reviews and/or my own fictional account of Silicon Valley’s ties with China:
MOODY, John. Of Course They Knew, Of Course They… 2021. As COVID pandemic swept the world, what really happened beforehand? A fictional guess by a renowned journalist with excellent sources.
MCARTHUR, Dobie. Questionable Intent, 2021. A cautionary tale of what America in the late-2020s could look like based on the policies and decisions being made by our embattled politicians and policymakers over global resources and players.
BRIDGES, Ann. Private Offerings, A Silicon Valley Novel, 2015. Winner Best Business Fiction. Top 10 Business Book. High stakes finance with China ties revealed.
BRIDGES, Ann. Rare Mettle, A Silicon Valley Sequel, 2016. China’s dominance of key metals challenges America’s national security. Pre-cursor to Groundbreaking!
August 21, 2022
Good exciting thriller.
June 10, 2022
This was a great read. There seem to be very few thrillers set in modern China, and the ones that exist don’t always ring true to my experiences living there. China Hand was both authentic and a page-turner. If Hollywood finds some courage, this would make a great movie some day.
August 4, 2023
"China Hand" by Scott Spaces, who is a friend, is a book that doesn't just knock on your door; it bursts through, demanding attention and utterly commanding your senses from start to finish. It is a thrilling odyssey that engrosses and surprises, much akin to the experience I had with "Three Days of The Condor."
It’s worth noting upfront that I'm no expert on China. I can’t tell the Forbidden City from the Summer Palace on a detailed map. But Scott's mastery of storytelling completely bridges that gap, making the intricacies of Chinese culture and the weighty political landscape palpable.
Our protagonist, Andrew Callahan, fresh out of Harvard, is as unsuspecting as I was when I first opened the book. But as he is drawn into the labyrinth of Chinese politics and espionage, so too are we, the readers. This intricate web, interwoven with a touching and dangerous romance, pulls us deeper into a world both fascinating and frightening.
The plot, inspired by real events, is a rollercoaster ride of high-stakes diplomacy and risky operations. It's like a 3D chess game where the stakes are not just pieces on a board, but the balance of world power and human lives. The suspense, reminiscent of "Three Days of The Condor," builds steadily, masterfully, reaching a crescendo that had me holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The characters, especially Andrew and Lily, are beautifully crafted and genuine. Their relationships, their dilemmas, and their courage become our own. We fear for them, root for them, and are moved by their predicaments.
"China Hand" is more than just a book, it's an adventure that takes you through the mysterious alleys of Beijing, into the heart of a political upheaval, and into the secret corners of human bravery. It is a testament to Scott's deft ability to weave fact with fiction into a narrative so thrilling, you won't want to put it down.
It’s worth noting upfront that I'm no expert on China. I can’t tell the Forbidden City from the Summer Palace on a detailed map. But Scott's mastery of storytelling completely bridges that gap, making the intricacies of Chinese culture and the weighty political landscape palpable.
Our protagonist, Andrew Callahan, fresh out of Harvard, is as unsuspecting as I was when I first opened the book. But as he is drawn into the labyrinth of Chinese politics and espionage, so too are we, the readers. This intricate web, interwoven with a touching and dangerous romance, pulls us deeper into a world both fascinating and frightening.
The plot, inspired by real events, is a rollercoaster ride of high-stakes diplomacy and risky operations. It's like a 3D chess game where the stakes are not just pieces on a board, but the balance of world power and human lives. The suspense, reminiscent of "Three Days of The Condor," builds steadily, masterfully, reaching a crescendo that had me holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The characters, especially Andrew and Lily, are beautifully crafted and genuine. Their relationships, their dilemmas, and their courage become our own. We fear for them, root for them, and are moved by their predicaments.
"China Hand" is more than just a book, it's an adventure that takes you through the mysterious alleys of Beijing, into the heart of a political upheaval, and into the secret corners of human bravery. It is a testament to Scott's deft ability to weave fact with fiction into a narrative so thrilling, you won't want to put it down.
August 14, 2022
This is my first spy novel set in China, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A first for author Scott Spacek, I found the writing very good and the story engaging. It kept my interest throughout and was easy to read and enjoy.
November 4, 2022
At first I wasn't sure about starting this book. I was on a cozy mystery kick and wasn't sure about changing to more of a thriller. I am glad that I read China Hand by Scott Spacek. Once I started reading, I was hooked. Hope there is a sequel.
March 28, 2022
China Hand by Scott Spacek is a highly-recommended suspense/thriller told by Andrew Callahan, a fresh young Harvard graduate on a one year teaching stint in a Chinese university before joining a prestigious global consulting firm.
Almost immediately Andrew is attracted to and begins a relationship with Lily, the Dean’s assistant, who also happens to be an Army General’s daughter. Shortly afterwards, Andrew is approached to help the CIA extract a Lily and so is effectively recruited into the CIA with all the risks associated with detection and capture that that entails.
While the plot is initially set in and near the university in Beijing, we are given fleeting glimpses of the colourful local culture as Andrew explores occasional nightclub, restaurant and a boxing club. The setting though is primarily the politically- and culturally-charged university in which USA and by extension ‘all Americans’ are vilified. As anti-USA protests due to USA’s bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade build, Lily’s escape becomes a matter of urgency.
I read the latterhalf of this book in one sitting because the pace picked up significantly and the story quickly turned into an action-suspense-thriller as Andrew helped Lily escape from the university. They soon met with Lily’s mother, whose escape had been helped by another US university teacher/CIA agent and friend of Andrew. Their escape plan was discovered almost immediately forcing them off-script. This involved a long van ride, a plane trip, a train trip, a street chase followed by a shoot-out in a shopping mall, separation from Lily and her mother, and ultimately a high-tension boarding of a ferry to Korea. That’s certainly not where the story ended, but because this is a suspense, I’ll stop there.
The 1980s were a grim time in China, especially if you were an American living and working there and the story reflects that. Nonetheless, I felt the author didn’t give me enough of the exotic culture and setting. There were brief references to eating in restaurants and navigating the city and the air pollution but these were too brief, in my opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading a fast-paced novel written in the first-person because it ‘sounded’ like I was being told the story by the one person who could tell it the best, the protagonist. This adds to the story’s authenticity and credibility. The relationship between Andrew and Lily felt genuine and the danger associated with their capture while running from the Chinese authorities felt more urgent for the story being told in the first person. (I wish there were more thrillers written in the first person.)
I wholly recommend China Hand to those who enjoy a fast and thrilling read with a snappy finish.
Peter
www.books-and-beans.com
Almost immediately Andrew is attracted to and begins a relationship with Lily, the Dean’s assistant, who also happens to be an Army General’s daughter. Shortly afterwards, Andrew is approached to help the CIA extract a Lily and so is effectively recruited into the CIA with all the risks associated with detection and capture that that entails.
While the plot is initially set in and near the university in Beijing, we are given fleeting glimpses of the colourful local culture as Andrew explores occasional nightclub, restaurant and a boxing club. The setting though is primarily the politically- and culturally-charged university in which USA and by extension ‘all Americans’ are vilified. As anti-USA protests due to USA’s bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade build, Lily’s escape becomes a matter of urgency.
I read the latterhalf of this book in one sitting because the pace picked up significantly and the story quickly turned into an action-suspense-thriller as Andrew helped Lily escape from the university. They soon met with Lily’s mother, whose escape had been helped by another US university teacher/CIA agent and friend of Andrew. Their escape plan was discovered almost immediately forcing them off-script. This involved a long van ride, a plane trip, a train trip, a street chase followed by a shoot-out in a shopping mall, separation from Lily and her mother, and ultimately a high-tension boarding of a ferry to Korea. That’s certainly not where the story ended, but because this is a suspense, I’ll stop there.
The 1980s were a grim time in China, especially if you were an American living and working there and the story reflects that. Nonetheless, I felt the author didn’t give me enough of the exotic culture and setting. There were brief references to eating in restaurants and navigating the city and the air pollution but these were too brief, in my opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading a fast-paced novel written in the first-person because it ‘sounded’ like I was being told the story by the one person who could tell it the best, the protagonist. This adds to the story’s authenticity and credibility. The relationship between Andrew and Lily felt genuine and the danger associated with their capture while running from the Chinese authorities felt more urgent for the story being told in the first person. (I wish there were more thrillers written in the first person.)
I wholly recommend China Hand to those who enjoy a fast and thrilling read with a snappy finish.
Peter
www.books-and-beans.com
August 28, 2022
Debut author Scott Spacek’s “China Hand” is a very good espionage thriller with more than one surprise in store. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Based, in part, on Mr. Spacek’s experiences as an English teacher in Beijing, it tells the story of Scott Callahan, a Chinese studies wunderkind from Harvard who has been hired by China to teach at its prestigious International Affairs University, a training ground for future intelligence and foreign service officers.
Almost immediately, and despite the university’s strict no-fraternization policy, Andrew and Dean's Assistant Lilly Jiang become besotted with each other. Lilly is also the daughter of a top Chinese general who disagrees with a powerful faction within the government and wants to defect to the US. But he won’t unless the CIA can also get Lilly out. The CIA turns to Andrew, who has absolutely no espionage training. Motivated by his love for Lilly, and the excitement of working as an agent for the CIA, he agrees, and the adventure is on!
Mr. Spacek has given us very enjoyable characters. We want to spend time with the heroes and we care about what happens to them. We want the villains to fail.
And he’s done a good job setting the stage and of filling his novel with the kinds of tension and danger that keep readers turning the pages. His descriptions of late-1990s Beijing and other cities are evocative: the smog-filled, gritty, charcoal-tinged air, the constant surveillance, the ever-present security forces, the hostility towards the U.S. and its citizens, especially following the mistaken bombing of China’s embassy in Belgrade.
I thought Mr. Spacek’s solution to the problem of getting Andrew “trained up” to handle his mission, right in the middle of Beijing, was very clever and I enjoyed learning about some of the tradecraft involved.
There were times when the plot strained credulity—when the pace became almost too frenetic and Mr. Spacek seemed to trade thrills and excitement for believability. Then again, his style is much more in the nature of Ian Fleming and Robert Ludlum than Graham Greene or John Le Carre. And this is, after all, a fictional entertainment.
Mr. Spacek concludes “China Hand” with a pretty strong indication that a sequel could be in the works. I, for one, would be happy to buy it.
Based, in part, on Mr. Spacek’s experiences as an English teacher in Beijing, it tells the story of Scott Callahan, a Chinese studies wunderkind from Harvard who has been hired by China to teach at its prestigious International Affairs University, a training ground for future intelligence and foreign service officers.
Almost immediately, and despite the university’s strict no-fraternization policy, Andrew and Dean's Assistant Lilly Jiang become besotted with each other. Lilly is also the daughter of a top Chinese general who disagrees with a powerful faction within the government and wants to defect to the US. But he won’t unless the CIA can also get Lilly out. The CIA turns to Andrew, who has absolutely no espionage training. Motivated by his love for Lilly, and the excitement of working as an agent for the CIA, he agrees, and the adventure is on!
Mr. Spacek has given us very enjoyable characters. We want to spend time with the heroes and we care about what happens to them. We want the villains to fail.
And he’s done a good job setting the stage and of filling his novel with the kinds of tension and danger that keep readers turning the pages. His descriptions of late-1990s Beijing and other cities are evocative: the smog-filled, gritty, charcoal-tinged air, the constant surveillance, the ever-present security forces, the hostility towards the U.S. and its citizens, especially following the mistaken bombing of China’s embassy in Belgrade.
I thought Mr. Spacek’s solution to the problem of getting Andrew “trained up” to handle his mission, right in the middle of Beijing, was very clever and I enjoyed learning about some of the tradecraft involved.
There were times when the plot strained credulity—when the pace became almost too frenetic and Mr. Spacek seemed to trade thrills and excitement for believability. Then again, his style is much more in the nature of Ian Fleming and Robert Ludlum than Graham Greene or John Le Carre. And this is, after all, a fictional entertainment.
Mr. Spacek concludes “China Hand” with a pretty strong indication that a sequel could be in the works. I, for one, would be happy to buy it.
June 20, 2022
China Hand by Scott Spacek As I was reading this book some part of me was a bit uncomfortable as it is about getting the wife and daughter of a very important Chinese general out of China. The general has already defected to the US and is expecting his family to be quickly removed. The principal person to help get them out is a young American teaching English language and cultural at a university. So far, ok. But the university is run more like a prison with brutal rules for the students as well as these foreign teachers. The novel takes place in May 1999. I was going frequently to China at this time and never experienced this type of experience. The story otherwise until the end was fine. The ending in my opinion was rushed, with good guys (even Americans) turning out to be under the control of the Chinese and some bad guys (again Americans) turning out to be long under-cover agents of the CIA. This seemed forced and worse as the young American teacher and the general’s daughter and wife are on a ferry from China to Korea are stopped by a Chinese destroyer which is then stopped by the American Airforce coming to the rescue with helicopters and fighter jets doing a bit more than shooting warning shots. Really? So, what gives? The publisher is Post Hill Press. Although it is distributed by Simon & Schuster and focuses on “conservative politics” and Christian titles. The publisher was formerly at NewsMax and some of their authors are Peter Navarro, Herman Cain and Oliver North. I realize this book it meant to be fiction but this bent and how it was written ruins a potentially reasonable book. I cannot recommend to any of my friends buying this book and putting money into these people’s hands.
April 25, 2022
After just finishing Tokyo Vice I was looking for another Asia-based story and came across China Hand. I don’t usually read what looked to be a plot-driven espionage novel, but with the Beijing setting and an author who lived in China for many years I wanted to give it a try.
What a great discovery. First of all—and this was a positive for me—China Hand is not a typical action thriller. The first quarter of the book is almost travel fiction or a memoir like Tokyo Vice itself as it focuses on an ambitious but somewhat naïve young Midwesterner named Andrew Callahan who goes to Asia to find adventure. I enjoyed exploring Beijing (and learning a fair amount about Chinese history and culture) through Andrew’s eyes as he touches down, finds his feet at the mysterious “spy school” where he is teaching (after a lot of missteps!), and befriends his students and colleagues—including a beautiful administrator named Lily who is the daughter of a Chinese general and becomes, somewhat predictably, the love interest.
The action (and romance) builds gradually until it suddenly explodes. I don’t want to give away too much, but from the moment the CIA tries to recruit Andrew the pace accelerates dramatically. What follows is a Bourne Identity-style run for Andrew’s and Lily’s lives that takes them all across China, with neither one sure just whom they can trust (including each other).
I would highly recommend China Hand if you’re looking for an intelligent action / adventure story set in China and grounded in all sorts of actual historical events. I appreciated Spacek’s attention to detail and felt like I learned a lot about US-China relations along the way.
What a great discovery. First of all—and this was a positive for me—China Hand is not a typical action thriller. The first quarter of the book is almost travel fiction or a memoir like Tokyo Vice itself as it focuses on an ambitious but somewhat naïve young Midwesterner named Andrew Callahan who goes to Asia to find adventure. I enjoyed exploring Beijing (and learning a fair amount about Chinese history and culture) through Andrew’s eyes as he touches down, finds his feet at the mysterious “spy school” where he is teaching (after a lot of missteps!), and befriends his students and colleagues—including a beautiful administrator named Lily who is the daughter of a Chinese general and becomes, somewhat predictably, the love interest.
The action (and romance) builds gradually until it suddenly explodes. I don’t want to give away too much, but from the moment the CIA tries to recruit Andrew the pace accelerates dramatically. What follows is a Bourne Identity-style run for Andrew’s and Lily’s lives that takes them all across China, with neither one sure just whom they can trust (including each other).
I would highly recommend China Hand if you’re looking for an intelligent action / adventure story set in China and grounded in all sorts of actual historical events. I appreciated Spacek’s attention to detail and felt like I learned a lot about US-China relations along the way.
September 4, 2022
I picked up Scott Spacek’s novel ‘China Hand’ recently, as I was preparing to shift countries for work. While I’m not a fan of thrillers, I was intrigued by what the book had to offer, given I had spent a couple of years working in Greater China, as an outsider. Scott does a fantastic job of rooting his main characters in simple, human-like themes- culture, love, ambition, and envy. The protagonist grapples with embracing the opinions of the Chinese society, but also learns how to apply the resilience of Chinese people, in his own life. He develops a love interest, which proves to be difficult, given their inter-cultural backgrounds, leading them all into a difficult and ‘keep you at the edge of your seat’ climax.
The novel was an easy read, as the writing style was a good balance of detail and emotion. This book is a must read for anybody, and in particular for those, who have at any point, migrated to another country for work, education or love, and experienced high stakes and unfavourable odds. I was eager to finish the book as soon as I could, and kudos to Spacek for taking shared human realities and setting it in an action-packed and thrilling context!
The novel was an easy read, as the writing style was a good balance of detail and emotion. This book is a must read for anybody, and in particular for those, who have at any point, migrated to another country for work, education or love, and experienced high stakes and unfavourable odds. I was eager to finish the book as soon as I could, and kudos to Spacek for taking shared human realities and setting it in an action-packed and thrilling context!
April 17, 2022
"China Hand" is a powerful thriller set in a country that has seen little serious attention by fiction writers. This one breaks the mold by fusing deeply-developed characters to an ever-accelerating plot that will sweep readers toward a shattering climax.
The novel is narrated by Andrew Callahan, a recent Harvard grad—but don’t hold that against him—who goes to China to teach contemporary American culture to university students in Beijing, not all of whom are receptive to his lessons. In fact, one jokes about shooting Americans. But the dean’s assistant, the daughter of a high-ranking Chinese general, finds Andrew intriguing for vastly different reasons.
Yes, cross-cultural chemistry soon comes into play with its own plot-entangling ramifications. The love making is rendered well—erotic, not obligatory, as in many thrillers—and Andrew’s relationship with the young woman becomes the story’s trip wire.
China Hand is unveiled scene by visual scene. In short, I’d be shocked if film rights didn’t fly out the door. A first-year film student could knock out a creditable draft in an evening. The twists and turns are integral and believable, the dialogue real and at times stomach-shaking funny.
I’ll say nothing of the ending, except that it fulfills the rich promises of the plot—and strongly suggests that we’ll see more from first-time novelist Scott Spacek, who has spent years in China and speaks fluent Mandarin. Fortunately for readers of "China Hand," his English skills are also first-rate.
The novel is narrated by Andrew Callahan, a recent Harvard grad—but don’t hold that against him—who goes to China to teach contemporary American culture to university students in Beijing, not all of whom are receptive to his lessons. In fact, one jokes about shooting Americans. But the dean’s assistant, the daughter of a high-ranking Chinese general, finds Andrew intriguing for vastly different reasons.
Yes, cross-cultural chemistry soon comes into play with its own plot-entangling ramifications. The love making is rendered well—erotic, not obligatory, as in many thrillers—and Andrew’s relationship with the young woman becomes the story’s trip wire.
China Hand is unveiled scene by visual scene. In short, I’d be shocked if film rights didn’t fly out the door. A first-year film student could knock out a creditable draft in an evening. The twists and turns are integral and believable, the dialogue real and at times stomach-shaking funny.
I’ll say nothing of the ending, except that it fulfills the rich promises of the plot—and strongly suggests that we’ll see more from first-time novelist Scott Spacek, who has spent years in China and speaks fluent Mandarin. Fortunately for readers of "China Hand," his English skills are also first-rate.
July 15, 2022
China Hand is a fresh take on espionage novels. It’s got all the things you want in a page turner: ordinary people in extraordinary situations, its geopolitically relevant, plenty of action and double agents. What I found satisfying was its authenticity of experience. China Hand shows the unglamourous side of spy craft – lots of waiting and holding a cool head - not mission impossible. Unlike many novels in this genre that have amateurs suddenly acting like 007s, it kept me believing as its protagonist evolves into his greater role. It has a familiar “that could be me as a 21year old” feel that kept me engaged. And clearly the author has spent plenty of time in China to get the details right and done homework on special ops. I recommend this to anyone who loves easy to digest “realistic” east/west spy thrillers.
June 21, 2022
CHINA HAND is an addictive international thriller with equal parts love, espionage, travel commentary, and action. For me it drew comparisons to Charles McCarry’s SHANGHAI FACTOR, but it most definitely stands on its own two feet and—in my opinion—more expertly weaves in authentic language, culture, and a sense of place into the mix which only a true ‘China Hand’ could pull off.
The beginning—a travel-infused love story—seductively draws you in and makes you care about the characters before a chain of events sets the ball rolling into an action-packed second half that incorporates authentic espionage tradecraft and an all-encompassing paranoia that will keep you turning the page. A unique spy thriller that stands out from the rest and will keep you guessing right til the end.
The beginning—a travel-infused love story—seductively draws you in and makes you care about the characters before a chain of events sets the ball rolling into an action-packed second half that incorporates authentic espionage tradecraft and an all-encompassing paranoia that will keep you turning the page. A unique spy thriller that stands out from the rest and will keep you guessing right til the end.
April 24, 2022
This is not my usual sort of novel but the description drew me in.
This is set in Beijing and resolves around Andrew, a Havard graduate, who is working for a year before taking his dream job back in the USA. From the very beginning he is faced with difficulties and events he does not understand. As the tale evolves Andrew is drawn into a situation which puts him at risk of imprisonment or even death.
Although this is a work of fiction the author has insights which means that there are incidents which could occur. All in all a very interesting read
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this novel
This is set in Beijing and resolves around Andrew, a Havard graduate, who is working for a year before taking his dream job back in the USA. From the very beginning he is faced with difficulties and events he does not understand. As the tale evolves Andrew is drawn into a situation which puts him at risk of imprisonment or even death.
Although this is a work of fiction the author has insights which means that there are incidents which could occur. All in all a very interesting read
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this novel
May 30, 2022
An intelligent espionage novel that combines astute cultural observations with action and interesting characters. I really felt for Andrew, an awkward and inexperienced teacher in the beginning, but started to root for him as his suspicions and capabilities grew as the novel progressed. Having lived in China in the early 2000's, the first part of China Hand reads almost like a journalistic account of life there 20 years ago, and many scenes brought me right back to specific times and places. Later, the novel picks up pace and I was swept along for an enjoyable ride. An excellent debut novel and hero.
December 31, 2023
I had the experience of visiting China in the fall of 2002, so some of the locations mentioned in the book were familiar. We also took an overnight train from Beijing to Dalian.
We were there to visit Christian missionaries, but they work behind the scenes, so we were officially “tourists.”
The drama of this story was intense. I was never sure who was on the American’s side and who was actually working for China, so it was a mystery to the end. I couldn’t believe how the work of the CIA all came together, but at a high price for some.
It definitely left you feeling like Book 2 is in the works!
We were there to visit Christian missionaries, but they work behind the scenes, so we were officially “tourists.”
The drama of this story was intense. I was never sure who was on the American’s side and who was actually working for China, so it was a mystery to the end. I couldn’t believe how the work of the CIA all came together, but at a high price for some.
It definitely left you feeling like Book 2 is in the works!
April 26, 2022
CHINA HAND is a fascinating, nail-biting espionage thriller set primarily in Beijing’s university, government, and diplomatic circles in the late '90s, told from the perspective of a young American teaching there. The story was a real eye-opener for me—exciting, for sure, but also really transporting me to China and helping to explain some of the history and culture and some of the roots of Chinese-Western tensions. The main characters were relatable and believable, and the plot was full of twists and turns. Highly recommended for anyone who loves exotic spy thrillers!
July 19, 2022
TLDR: Run, don't walk to get this book! You won't be able to put it down!
While on a long, international flight, I picked up this book and was not able to put it down. The suspense, the romance, the action made for one incredible read. There was never a dull moment starting from page 1 of the novel. Each chapter ends with a bang or cliff hanger that just makes you want more. Being Chinese-America, the plot / storyline also resonated with me, and I appreciated the subtle lessons, history, and cultural nods baked into the book. Highly recommend this - best book I've read in a while!
While on a long, international flight, I picked up this book and was not able to put it down. The suspense, the romance, the action made for one incredible read. There was never a dull moment starting from page 1 of the novel. Each chapter ends with a bang or cliff hanger that just makes you want more. Being Chinese-America, the plot / storyline also resonated with me, and I appreciated the subtle lessons, history, and cultural nods baked into the book. Highly recommend this - best book I've read in a while!
July 24, 2022
If you have a hankering for a rip-roaring spy thriller set against the backdrop of modern China, Scott Spacek's 'China Hand' fits the bill. For $0.99 this weekend only on Amazon Kindle, it is highly recommended for your summer beach read. Having lived in Beijing one summer myself, I can vouch for the realism of Spacek's portrayal. I felt like I was living vicariously through the protagonist at every turn, such did the story suck me in and keep me turning page after page. I didn't expect the twist at the end! I'm already looking forward to seeing what Spacek manages for an encore..
January 10, 2023
Really enjoyed China Hand.
I’m a former Hollywood studio executive, marketed a slew of action movies for Warner Bros on home entertainment in the noble past.
China Hand has good bones as an action thriller for a Jack Ryan-like series. The hero, Andrew Callahan, has echoes of John Krasinski as Ryan or Brad Pitt in Spy Game. For a first novel the author has a good grasp of narrative, created well-paced action, and attached motivations that ring true. Story is quite a page turner, moves along swiftly. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next one.
I’m a former Hollywood studio executive, marketed a slew of action movies for Warner Bros on home entertainment in the noble past.
China Hand has good bones as an action thriller for a Jack Ryan-like series. The hero, Andrew Callahan, has echoes of John Krasinski as Ryan or Brad Pitt in Spy Game. For a first novel the author has a good grasp of narrative, created well-paced action, and attached motivations that ring true. Story is quite a page turner, moves along swiftly. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next one.
January 22, 2023
China Hand had me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. This is a geopolitical spy thriller with some unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing throughout. It was impossible to put down for the final 100 pages, leading to the perfect finale.
Beyond the action and intrigue, it's also a book of stories about an American expat living in Asia, an experience that I can relate to and which this book brought back some find memories.
Hats off to the author Scott Spacek - a wonderful debut!
Beyond the action and intrigue, it's also a book of stories about an American expat living in Asia, an experience that I can relate to and which this book brought back some find memories.
Hats off to the author Scott Spacek - a wonderful debut!
June 9, 2023
I love a good thriller or action novel but am also interested in international politics and China in particular. I was waiting for Audible version to come out (I have heard from someone in the know that it will be out soon ) However, I could wait no longer and got my hands on the book itself. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Action wound up tighter and tighter as the book went along. Both riveting and educational. Do yourself a favor and read it! I read it in 2 days and am a slow reader Caution: may induce tachycardia.
May 3, 2022
I love a contemporary spy novel that sets me down in a world I don't know and China Hand delivers. For me the best part of the novel is the closely-observed landscape, culture and complex rules that govern, well, everything, and how the protagonist must not only learn to live in this whole new world, but discovers -- and must navigate against a ticking clock -- a secret world of spies and counter-spies.
January 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this, though it was a bit different from what I originally expected. When I read the back cover, I expected maybe more of a traditional thriller / espionage story along the lines of Damascus Station. In fact, the story is more of a coming-of-age / adventure story taking place in China. Personally, I really enjoyed this, but maybe the book's marketing / positioning could be improved a bit. If you're looking for Tom Clancy or John LeCarre you may be disappointed.
February 12, 2023
creditable first novel
This exciting thriller is set in 1990’s China. An American teacher there falls in love with a Chinese general’s daughter and gets involved with a CIA plot to exfiltrate her. He acquires boxing and martial arts skill along the way and there are many fight scenes. A lot of punch, bam, pow; exciting, but maybe a little too many episodes of it. I enjoyed the immersion in Chinese life and the spy elements of the story.
This exciting thriller is set in 1990’s China. An American teacher there falls in love with a Chinese general’s daughter and gets involved with a CIA plot to exfiltrate her. He acquires boxing and martial arts skill along the way and there are many fight scenes. A lot of punch, bam, pow; exciting, but maybe a little too many episodes of it. I enjoyed the immersion in Chinese life and the spy elements of the story.
April 21, 2023
Finished the book in less than a day. It’s just that good.
Loved how thrilling it was and the contextualization of the time and place and how that context drives and enriches the story at every turn of the page.
Highly highly highly recommend!
Needed a fun thriller to read after reading a bunch of non-fiction and academic work for my grad school thesis and found this book to be a fun respite filled with smart, fun and entertaining storytelling.
Loved how thrilling it was and the contextualization of the time and place and how that context drives and enriches the story at every turn of the page.
Highly highly highly recommend!
Needed a fun thriller to read after reading a bunch of non-fiction and academic work for my grad school thesis and found this book to be a fun respite filled with smart, fun and entertaining storytelling.
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